Monsoon mirage continues in Dhaka

With only 7mm of rainfall, the capital suffered stifling heat and humidity yesterday.  Eleven days have passed since the southwest monsoon was supposed to usher in the rainy season, but Dhaka, along with the rest of the country—except the northern region, where rivers have swelled—is yet to see the familiar torrents of downpour during this season. The mercury nudged a high of 37.5 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi and 35.2 degrees Celsius in Dhaka, making life miserable for people, especially for those who have been fasting. Daily commuters also suffered in the heat and humidity, as they counted hours to reach their respective workplaces. Meteorologists at the Dhaka Met Office were tracking a low pressure area that has formed for the past few days in the west-central Bay of Bengal and its adjoining areas near the Orissa coast. They said after landing, it might trigger rainfall in Orissa and influence rains over Bangladesh.
But they reported yesterday that it would not melt, since a depression has formed in the Arabian Sea. Until it moves overland and brings rains in the western coast of India, there is no hope for Bangladesh, they observed. They are counting on the next 72 hours for the rains to arrive over Bangladesh as the monsoon system is gradually gaining strength. Otherwise, there would be scattered showers and not torrential rain. The northern region of the country, however, is facing the onslaught of monsoon in full force, as all the rain-bearing clouds from the Bay are sailing towards the Himalayas. The highest of 114mm rainfall was recorded in Dimla of Nilphamaari on June 26. It was followed by 76mm in Sylhet on June 27 and 57mm in Rajarhat of Kurigram on June 24. Against that, Dhaka only received only 1mm of rain on June 23 and 3mm on June 27. Bazlur Rashid, a meteorologist, said that because of the presence of moisture content in the air and with the clouds moving towards the north, the cloudy days are being experienced as sultry.

Monsoon mirage continues in Dhaka

With only 7mm of rainfall, the capital suffered stifling heat and humidity yesterday. Eleven days have passed since the southwest monsoon was supposed to usher in the rainy season, but Dhaka, along with the rest of the countryexcept the northern region, where rivers have swelledis yet to see the familiar torrents of downpour during this season. The mercury nudged a high of 37.5 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi and 35.2 degrees Celsius in Dhaka, making life miserable for people, especially for those who have been fasting. Daily commuters also suffered in the heat and humidity, as they counted hours to reach their respective workplaces. Meteorologists at the Dhaka Met Office were tracking a low pressure area that has formed for the past few days in the west-central Bay of Bengal and its adjoining areas near the Orissa coast. They said after landing, it might trigger rainfall in Orissa and influence rains over Bangladesh. But they reported yesterday that it would not melt, since a depression has formed in the Arabian Sea. Until it moves overland and brings rains in the western coast of India, there is no hope for Bangladesh, they observed. They are counting on the next 72 hours for the rains to arrive over Bangladesh as the monsoon system is gradually gaining strength. Otherwise, there would be scattered showers and not torrential rain. The northern region of the country, however, is facing the onslaught of monsoon in full force, as all the rain-bearing clouds from the Bay are sailing towards the Himalayas. The highest of 114mm rainfall was recorded in Dimla of Nilphamaari on June 26. It was followed by 76mm in Sylhet on June 27 and 57mm in Rajarhat of Kurigram on June 24. Against that, Dhaka only received only 1mm of rain on June 23 and 3mm on June 27. Bazlur Rashid, a meteorologist, said that because of the presence of moisture content in the air and with the clouds moving towards the north, the cloudy days are being experienced as sultry.